Montrose orGrand Junction:which is right for you?
By Makura Casias, REALTOR® · Updated
It depends on what you need close by. Grand Junction is the larger city, with Colorado Mesa University and three major hospitals, including a regional VA medical center. Montrose costs slightly more than Grand Junction, because it sits closer to the San Juan Mountains, Ridgway, Ouray and Telluride.
What does Grand Junction offer that Montrose does not?
Grand Junction is the bigger of the two, more spread out, with more shopping, dining and things to do. It is home to Colorado Mesa University and to three major hospitals, including a regional VA medical center, and it serves as the medical hub for western Colorado.
- A drier, warmer climate with milder winters
- Close to the Colorado National Monument and the Grand Mesa
- Palisade nearby for a small-town feel and Colorado wine country
- Agricultural areas out toward Fruita
- More school options and big-town amenities
What does Montrose offer that Grand Junction does not?
Montrose is the blend for buyers who want more than a tiny town but not the scale of a big city, and who want to be near Telluride without living in Telluride.
- A cooler climate with all four seasons and real snow
- San Juan Mountain views, with the mountains 30 minutes to an hour away
- Close to Telluride, Ridgway and Ouray
- An expanded airport, a rec center and hospital access
- Hunting, fishing and the outdoors basically in the backyard
- An updated Main Street with new restaurants, a small-city feel that still feels like a hometown
Is Montrose more expensive than Grand Junction?
Slightly. Montrose is priced a little above Grand Junction, because it sits closer to the San Juan Mountains. Prices move with the market, so for a current comparison on the homes you are actually considering, ask Makura.
How do you decide between the two?
When someone is genuinely torn, it usually comes down to the one thing they cannot live without. Makura was raised in Montrose and lives in Grand Junction, and she shows homes in both, so her job is to find that deciding factor by asking the right questions before the search starts. One buyer chose Montrose simply because it was the most walkable for their daily routine. If you want quick access to wine country, she might point you toward Palisade instead.
Coming from the Front Range or out of state? Read moving to the Western Slope from Denver, or see how she works with buyers.
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